Antenna fair-lead



Nov. 22; 1938.- A. ALGREEN ANTENNA FAIR LEAD Filed April 7, 1937 INVENTOR. A/ZEI] A. fire n m- M ATTORNEY H an airplane.

Patented Nov. 22, 1938 PATENT FFIcE 213745931 3 a ANTENNA FAlR LEAD Albert A} Green, Bridgeport, Conn; assignor'to United Aircraft Corporation, i East Hartford,

Conn., a corporationof Delaware Application April 7, 1937;SerialN0a135A70 8 Claims. (oiliii -n This invention relates to improvements in antenna fairleads and has for an object the'provision of an improved means forguiding a radio antenna into and out of the fuselage or hull of A further-object resides inthe provision inan improved antenna fairlead of the character specified including means extendible beyond the surface of the hull or fuselage toprevent the antenna from contacting the surface of the hull or fuselage while the antenna is being reeled into or out of the body of theairplane.

A still further object resides in the provision ina flying boat of an improved guide means'for a radio antenna, said guide means having a water tight connection with the skin or cover portion of the boat hull and extending above the Water line when the boat is at rest on the water.

An additional object resides in the provision of an improved antenna fairlead which will effectively insulate the antenna from the portion of the boat through which the antenna'passeswhen it is extended to operative position. 1 o

Other objects and advantages will be more particularly pointed out hereinafter or will become apparent as thedescription proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing in which like reference numerals are used todesignate similar partsthroughout, there is illustrated asuitable mechanical embodiment of What is now considered to bethe preferred form of theidea of the invention. The drawing, however, is for the purpose of illustration only and is not to be taken as limiting the invention, the scope of which is to be measured entirely by thescope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, i

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a frag-- mentary portion of an airplane fuselage or hull showing an improved antenna fairlead constructed according to the idea of this invention applied thereto, such portion of the fairlead being broken away to better illustrate the cone struction thereof. x i 1,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational viewofvone form of airplane to which the antenna fairlead may beapplied and illustrates one practical position of the antenna with relation to the body of the airplane. a n p Referring to the drawingin detail, the numeral l0 generally indicates an airplane hull or fuselage. shown, the numeral ,H) indicates the hull of a passenger-carrying flying boat. The type of flyfl-L 3 ing boat illustrated is provided with a passenger:

In the illustrative construction compartment and with a separatecontrol compartmentprovidingspace for the pilots, navigato-r,'-1nechanic and radio operator. As a matter of convenience, the radio antenna is located near the radiooperator and projects through thebottom of the hull of the flying boat at a location atthe rear of the control compartment, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. It is to be understood, however, that this location-is by Way of exemplification only and that the antenna may lead through any portion of the boat in which its location would be desirable or convenientm In the form of the invention illustrated the hullisprovided at the' rear of thecontrol compartmentwith 'a transverse bulkhead l2 secured to a bottom frame M'to which is securedthe hull skin or cover l6. I

An antenna reelgenerally indicated at [8 is mounted upon the bulkhead I2 within convenient reach of the radio operator and from thisreel the antenna 20 extends through an aperture 22 provided in the bottom portion of the hull.

- Between the aperture 22 and the reel I8, there is provided an antenna fairlead or antenna guide generally indicated at 24.

The'antenna fairlead 24 comprises an outer tubular member ZG secured at its lower end to the upper end of a flared or frustro-conical member 28 by suitable means such as the screwthreaded union 30. l The lower end of the flared member 28 isdisposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the member and is provided with an annular flange 32 which overlies a portion of the cover or skin I6 surrounding the aperture 22. Preferably a gasket is disposed between the adjacent surfaces of the flange and the covermember and the flange issecurely attachedto the cover member by suitable means such asjthe screws 34 to provide a water-tight connection between the lower end of the member 28 and the skin of the hull of the flying boat. The union 3!) provides a water-tight con nection between the lower end of the tubular member; 26 and the upperend of the member 28 and theupper end of the tubular member 26 extendsabove the water line when the boat is at rest in the water. The guide member additionally comprises an inner tubular member 36 slidably mounted in the outer tubular member 26 and; insulated therefrom by the annular insulating=members 38 and 40 disposed Within the opposite end ofthe tubular member 26, and a locking member 42 for restraining the inner upper insulating member secured to the upper.

end of the outer tube and a collar 52 secured upon the inner tube 36 within the tube 26.

The lock member 42 is a partly cylindrical member rigidly secured at its lower end to the insulating member 40 and insulated from the outer tube member 26. This member extends upwardly above the upper end of the outer tube 26 and is provided at its upper end with a locking slot 54 adapted to receive a handle 56 secured to the upperend of the inner tube 36 so that by rotating the inner tube 36 the handle 56 may be brought within the slot 54 and retain the inner member in its uppermost position against the. action of the spring 50. If desired, the endsof the spring may be attached to the tubes 36 and 26 in such a manner that torsional action of the spring will automatically insert the handle 5.6 into the slot 54 when the antenna is fully retracted. y

The antenna reel I6 is shown as provided with a winding. knob 58 although it may be motor driven, if desired, and is also provided with a locking lever 60 so that-it may be locked to retain. the antenna in its fully retracted position as illustrated in full lines in Fig.. 1 or at any desired amount of;extension from the hull or fuselage of the airplane. f

When it-is desired to extend the antenna from its fully retracted position, the reel lock is disengaged by the member 60, the handle 56 is disengaged from the slot 54 and rotated out ofthe slot 54 and the antenna reeled out of the airplane. As the antenna moves. out of the airplane, the inner tube 36 follows the weight 48 downwardly until the lower end of the tube projects below the bottom surface of the hull, as is particularly illustrated in broken lines on Fig. 1. In

its extended position,.the inner tube 36 prevents.

the antenna. weight 48 from slapping. against. the sides or bottom of the hull under the. actionv of the air stream flowing, past the hull and insures that the antenna will fall freely from the airplane without interfering with the hull. or becoming,

entangled.

When the anienna is reeled in, the upper end of the weight 48 contacts the. lower end of the extended inner tube member 36 and the force of. the spring 50 causes. the tube. member to. support the weight 48 against movement. under the influence of the air stream as it is drawn into the interior of .the weight receiving, member 28. After the antenna has been drawn completely within the airplane and the reel i6 locked" to retain it in such retracted position, the handle '56 may be moved into the slot 54 to remove the force of the spring 56 from the antenna and the reel. A certain amount of tension, however, is maintained upon the antenna so that the-upper end of the weight 48 is retained in contact with the gasket 46 to provide a water-tight joint between the. weight and the lower end of'theinner tubemember 36. From an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be observed that when the antenna is. fully retracted, no. portion. of. .the antenna Or -the:

antenna guide projects materially beyond the flush surface of the hull cover l6 and that when the antenna is extended the weighted end thereof is guided firmly and smoothly through the aperture 22 to the exterior of the hull and to such a distance below the hull surface that the weight 48 is entirely free of the hull and will not slap against the surface of the hull as the antenna is released. It will also be observed that the antenna is completely insulated from all portions of the hull.

While there has been illustrated and described a particular constructional form of the idea of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the construction so illustrated and described, but that such changes in the size, shape, material and arrangement of parts; may be resorted to as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described the invention so that others skilled in the art may clearly understand the: same what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent. is as follows.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an airplane and a radio antenna extendible through a portion of the surface of said airplane, and provided with a weight at the end thereof, guide means for said antenna providing a water-tight connection between said guide. means and the surface of said airplane, and means providing a water-tight connection between said guide means and said weight.

2. In combination with an airplane and a radio antennaextendiblethrough a portion of the sur,-

face of said airplane, means for guiding the end of said antenna through said surface to a position in which said end is clear of said surface during the extension of said antenna, a spring for urging said guide means to extended position and means for removing the force of said spring from the tension on said antenna when said antenna is fully retracted.

3. In combination with an airplane and a radio antenna extendible-through a portion of the surface of said airplane, means for guiding said antenna. through the surface of said airplane comprising an outer tubular member sealed at its lower end to the cover of said airplane, an inner tubular member, within said outer tubular member and a spring for projecting said inner member to position its outer end beyond the surface of. said airplane when said antenna is extended.

4. In combination with an airplane and a radio antenna extendible through a portion of the surface of said airplane, means for guiding said antenna comprising. an outer tubular member sealed at. one. end to the. cover of said airplane, and an inner tubular member within said outer tubular member and insulated therefrom, resilient' means for urging said inner tubular member to. a position in which its. outer end is projected beyond the surface of said airplane, and means for locking said inner tubular member in its restricted position against the force of said resilient. means.

5. In combination with an airplane and a radio antenna extendible through a portion of the surface of said airplane, means for guiding said antenna comprising an outer tubular member sealed at oneend to the cover of said airplane, an inner tubular member within said outer tubular member and insulated therefrom, and a spring for projecting said inner tubular member to a position in which its outer end projects beyond the surface of said airplane, said inner tubular member being provided with a flare at its outer end, and a gasket in said flare for receiving said antenna weight.

6. In combination with an airplane and a radio antenna extendible through a portion of the surface of said airplane and a Weight for the end of said antenna, guide means for said antenna comprising a tapered member sealed to the cover of said airplane and providing a receptacle for said weight, an outer tubular member secured to the outer end of said tapered member, an inner tubular member within said outer tubular member and insulated therefrom and a spring for projecting said inner tubular member to a position extending through said tapered member to the exterior of said airplane.

7. In combination with an airplane, a radio antenna extendible through a portion of the surface of said airplane, and an end weight for said antenna, a receptacle within said airplane for said end weight, an insulated antenna guide having an operative position with its outer end at the inner end of said receptacle, and means operative upon unreeling of said antenna to project the outer end of said guide means outwardly to carry said weight clear of the surface of said airplane and hold said antenna out of contact with said surface.

8. In combination with a vehicle hull, and a weighted line extendible through an aperture in the lower portion of said hull, a tubular receptacle secured to said hull surrounding said aperture and projecting upwardly in the interior of said hull to a position above the water line, a movable guide tube in said receptacle surrounding said line, means resiliently urging said guide tube to a position in which it projects beyond the outer surface of said hull to maintain said line clear of said hull surface, and means electrically insulating said guide tube from said receptacle.

ALBERT A. GREEN. 

